Ironing table



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IRONING TABLE 5 Filed Fb. 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Figfi Sept. 29, 1936. o. A. FLAGSTAD IRONING TABLE Filed Feb. 13, 1955 QSheets-fihsei if P 1935- o. A. FLAGSTAD 2,056,004

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O. A. FLAGSTAD IROR'ING TABLE Filed Feb. 13, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H 0Q AU fi 3 a. v w! m y 1 O WET. 1A 4 Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRONING TABLE Oscar A. Flagstad, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application February 13, 1935, Serial No. 6,300

19 Claims. (Cl. 38119) This invention relates to ironing tables of the collapsible type and the primary object is to provide a comparatively simple, efficient, and practical construction of table that is virtually automatic in folding and setting up operation, by which is meant that it is entirely unnecessary for the operator to do more than pick the table up and tilt it to effect the collapsing operation or to return it to normal horizontal position to completely restore the supporting legs and braces to operative position.

The invention particularly represents an advance over the type of table disclosed generally and claimed in my Patent No. 1,963,977, issued June 26th, 1934, for Ironing table, and in which the general appearance as well as structural and bracing arrangement has considerable in common with the instant disclosure. There is one significant and highly important distinction in the present structure over that of the patent, however, and this distinction is also applicable as against numerous prior art structures which have received my attention, and that is the automatic feature already generally referred to.

In developing-the many leg and bracing device combinations representative of this art, designers have invariably found it necessary to employ latches, catches, hooks, locks, bolts, etc., to maintain the supporting structures in operative positions, or have necessitated leg and brace manipulations that proved discouraging and often impossible of accomplishment by housewives, maids, or other servants not mechanically minded.

In perfecting the present invention, however, I have produceda collapsible table that is capable of being operated by any person that has the physical and mental ability to merely lift and tilt the table when it is to be either set up or collapsed and put away.

In addition to the foregoing and highly. important aspect of the invention, it may additionally be noted that'the table is so formed as to utilize a minimum amount of material and is therefore light in weight and economical of manufacture, and, further, is so formed that when in use it is unusually sturdy and rigid, a primary consideration in all ironing tables.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate various embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ironing board which embodies a preferred conception or form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, detail sectional elevation illustrating how the table shown in Fig. 1 may be hung on a hook when collapsed and out of use.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, detail elevation of a portion of the rear of the board, showing a modified form of suspension device.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, perspective detail showing a preferred form of pivot connection between the 6 front leg frame and the brace frame attached to it.

Fig. 5 is a perspective elevation of the table corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing the table in its partly collapsed condition as automatically occurs when the board A of the table is lifted and tilted to the extent indicated, or as when the board is being returned from its vertical inactive position to its horizontal and operative condition.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, detail perspective elevation of the leg and brace connection.

Fig. 6A is a sectional, detail elevation on the line 6A6A in Fig. 6, showing a modification thereof.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, detail sectional view of an interlock device which may in some instances be employed to advantage, but which is by no means essential in tables designed for ordinary domestic use, this viewbeing taken on the line 1--1 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 3-8 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective elevation of the table as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, but completely collapsed and as it appears from the rear when it is to be hung up on or removed from a suspension hook, as further indicated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of an ironing table embodying a modification of the invention, a portion of the device which is otherwise identical with the preferred form being broken away.

Fig. 11 is a rear view of the table, or as seen from the left in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged, detail sectional clevation on the line l2--l2 in Fig. 11, but with certain parts broken away.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged, detail section on the line l3--l3 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the table as shown in Fig. 10, but in its partly lifted, tilted, and collapsed condition.

Fig. 15 is a rear view of the table as shown in Figs. 10-14, but in its vertical and completely collapsed condition.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged, detail section on the line I6--l6 in Fig. 14.

Reference will now be made to the various figures of the drawings by reference characters, like parts being designated by like characters in the particular figures wherein such parts are shown. It may here be noted that as a matter of ;by way of modification.

convenience the terms board or (ironing board will be used in its popular sense to indicate broadly the flat element presentingthe ironing surface, and regardless as to whether said board is strictly a wooden board, or is made of sheet metal or other material; and, the terms table or ironing table will be employed in the broad sense ofincluding both the board and also the supporting structure which is made up of the legs, braces, and other collapsible elements. r I

In the embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, the ironing table is made up, essentially, of an ironing board A, a rear supporting leg frameB, a forward or front leg frame C, a connecting frameD, and a brace frame E.

The two leg frames B and C are pivotally/ attached at their upper ends, as at 20,-to depending lugs 2| of a crossbar 22 secured to the underside of the board A.j' The frameB is madegip of two legs 23, preferably of tubular material so as to give maximum supporting strength, and these legs may have their lower ends bent outwardly, as shown in Figs. 1,5, and 9, to effect a greater transverse span an us produce greater rigidity. These legs ma so be provided with rubber tips 24 to pr en slipping and marring of floors.

The legs/ 3 are rigidly connected, intermediate their ends, by a cross brace or bar 25, which as shown is of heavy sheet metal and is angularly formed, in cross section, so as ,to give substantial connecting and bracing strength to the legs. Thus the bar has an inclined intermediate portion 26, and adjacent edge flanges 21 and 28, the ends of which are secured .upon opposite sides of the legs 23 as best shown in Fig. 6. A further reason for the angular construction of the bar 25 is to permit close nesting of parts when the table is collapsed and to facilitate the opening and closmg operations as will presently be set forth.

The leg frame C is also preferably made of tubular material although solid rod material may be used. Thisframe is V-shaped. in form and when made of solid rod material may be bent from one continuous rod. Where tubular mate The connector frame D is generally triangular in form and may also be made of tubular material, but is here shown as made of flat bar iron, except in Fig. 6A where round bar iron is shown As indicated particularly in Fig. 4, the side bars 3| and 32 of this frame are rigidly connected by a clamp strap 33, the opposite end portions of which extend over and under the bars and are riveted thereto, while an intermediate portion 34 is looped about the member 29 to establish a pivoting connection therewith.

so as to accommodate the converging bars 3| and 32 when the bars slide through the slots during the collapsing and setting up movements of the respective frame members, and inasmuch as the slots are in the inclined portion 25 of the bar 25 the freedom of sliding movement will be maintained even when the frames B and D approach and are in the same plane as shown in Fig. 9. This" arrangement also and quite obviously permits the parts to nest in much closer association when the table is not in'use, thus economizing on storage and shipping space required, as well as improving its general appearance.

'The; bar 35 of the brace frame E has two integral arm portions 38 and 39 which converge toward the rea'rend of the board A and are permanently pivoted to the underside thereof as The upper ends of th arms, as shown in Figs.

' 2 and 9, are pivotally secured to a bracket exten- Fig. 3, the upper rear ends of the bars 38 and 39' are looped about a pivot pin 45,.which extends through two punched up ears 46 of a channel iron cross brace 41. The pivotpin in this instance also serves to attach abail or wire loop 48 which can be placed upon any wall hook such as 43 to suspend the board.

When setting up the table, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9, the operator need not even touch any of the leg or bracing frame structure. It is merely necessary to grasp the board A, lift it from its suspension hook 43, and then tilt it down through the position indicated in Fig. 5 to the horizontal, as shown in Fig. l, whereupon all the parts will assume their correct operative positions; and, conversely to collapse the table it is only necessary to lift and tilt the rear end, whereupon the parts will again move through the relative positions shown in Fig. 5, and upon completion of the movement all of the supporting and bracing structure will automatically reach and stop in the position shown in Fig. 9.

It may be noted that the action of gravity plays a very important part in the setting up and collapsing operation of the supporting structure. Thus, as the board is tilted'from the vertical to the horizontal position, the leg structure drops down and the rear leg frame B swings somewhat beyond its vertical position, as shown in Fig. l,

and until it stops against the bar 36 of the brace frame E. Should the leg frame B, however, not reach its rearmost position immediately, no harm will be done, and as soon as slight pressure is brought to bear downwardly upon the board A the front leg frame C and the connector frame D will slide forwardly until the stopping and bracing contact with the frame B is reached. When the tableis now in use any pressure upon the top of the board will be transmitted through the various supporting frames, and such pressure will not only 'tighten up the bracing structure, but will eliminate or overcome any tendency towards vibration or loose joints. It will also be obvious that pressure upon either end of the board will equally be taken up through the brace frame E, which in turn will produce a downward or upward pressure on the leg structure depending upon which end of the ironing board is being used.

t may here be noted that the fixed distances from the pivot 40 to the pivot 20, and thence through the frame C to the pivot center 34, is equalto the distance from the pivot center 40 to the pivot center 36 and thence through the con-- nector frame D to the pivot center 34, with a result that-the quadrangular arrangement thus formed is permitted to move from the set up position and through a substantial parallelogram to the collapsed position shown in Fig. 9. It may here also be noted that inasmuch as the frame B must move rearwardly of a vertical plane passing through the pivot centers 20, the slots 35 will move in an arc. from the center 20, which are will extend slightly below the normal position of the frame D, as shown in Fig. 1. Consequently, and in order that this movement may be effected with as much freedom as possible, the frame D must be slightly lowered before the cross bar 25 of the frame B can move forwardly; but this freedom of movement is readily provided for when the table is initially lifted, for at such time the frames C and E will drop downwardly to a limited extent, thus lowering the frame D until the rear leg frame has passed the vertical plane of its pivot 20. Immediately this is done, however, the frames C, D, and E are .free to move toward the board A as the latteris completely brought to its vertical position.

The arrangement just referred to also provides an automatic locking arrangement to prevent accidental collapsing of the table, because as long as there is any pressure downwardly on the board A it can not be pushed rearwardly so as to swing the rear leg frame forwardly under it. Consequently complete rigidity of the table is maintained at all times as long as it is set up in operative position, but without in any way interfering with the automatic collapsing arrangement already. described.

Attention is now directed to Figs. '7 and 8 wherein I have illustrated means whereby the supporting structure may be positively locked in set up position. This feature, as already noted,

is not necessary in order to maintain rigidity, or to properly support the board when in use. shown, however, as there may be instances where it is desired to lock the supporting structure in its operative position, and this provision may be made use of where the table is to be maintained in set up position most of the time and where it may be necessary to move it around in a room or laundry. The attachment in no way changes the structure as otherwise disclosed, but adds a sleeve 49 which is rotatably secured upon the bar 36 of the frame E, and has a pair of angular fingers 50 adjacent the pivot connections 31 for engagement in the slots 35 to thus firmly secure the bar 36 against-the cross member 25 of the rear leg mediate its ends with an upwardly projecting tongue adapted to be engaged by the hand v of the operator to oscillate the sleeve 49 and thus engage and disengage the fingers 50 with respect to the slots 35.

Attention is now directed to the ironing table structure shown in Figs. to 16, inclusive, wherein the supporting and bracing structure is capable of the same automatic collapsing and setting up operation. as in the preferred form, but has the added feature that when the rear supporting leg frame is in operative position the leg sections are transversely spread at their lower ends, as indicated in Fig. 11, but when the board is collapsed, as shown in Fig. 15, this leg struc- It is ture is contracted 'so that it will not project beyond the lateral limits of the board. This is particularly advantageous for shipping purposes inasmuch as the supporting structure will thus be far more compact and can be shipped innarrower cartons or crates.

In this embodiment of .the invention the rear leg frame Bl comprises upper and lower sections 52 and 53 respectively, pivotally connected as at 54. The section 52 comprises two laterally disposed links which are pivoted at their upper ends as at 20 to the lugs 2| of the cross bar 22,

as in the preferred form, and these links areconnected by a transversely arranged bar 55, which bar has right angular lugs at its ends which are pivoted to the links of the section 52 as at 56. to the lugs 21 as at 20, and at its forward end is pivotally connected-to a connector frame DI as in the preferred form, but the rear ends of the frame DI, instead of being slidable with respect to the rear leg frame, are pivotally secured to the lower sections 53 thereof, as at 51. The pivot 51 is formed by looping the frame bars DI about angular extensions 58 .(see Fig. 16) of the frame El, which frame E! at its upper end is connected by a fixed pivot 40 to the board A as in the preferred form. The extensions 58, after engaging the loops of the connector frame DI, extend through short sleeves 5 9 and then pivotally engage the leg frame members BI as at 60. It may here be noted that the legs proper of the rear leg frame BI are formed of angle iron but quite obviously might be made of channel iron, tubular material, or of any preferred cross sectional form.

Below the" pivots 51 the leg members 53 are connected by a pair of links 6| which are pivotally connected at a central point by a pivot pin 52, and this pin also serves as a pivot connection for a vertical connecting "rod 63, the upper end of which attaches centrally to the cross bar 55 as by a pin or bolt 64. It will be noted that the links 52 are pivoted to the legs 53 at points 54 somewhat below'the upper extremities of the legs, and are free to swing forwardly with respect to the legs as indicated in Fig. 14, but cannot swing A front leg frame CI is also pivoted f rearwardly beyond theplane of the leg frame inasmuch as they engage or stop against the inwardly opposed flanges of the legs.

The operation of this table may be explained as follows: When the table is in its vertical and collapsed position, as shown in Fig. 15, the various parts will assume the positions as therein shown, and at which time, as previously noted, the legs 53 will be drawn in so as not to project beyond the lateral limits of .the board. This drawing in is effected by the connecting rod 63 which breaks the joint between the links 6| and by a toggle action moves them downwardly to thereby pull in the legs 53. It may here be noted that the pivotal connections 20 and 54 have a slight amount of freedom to permit this transverse swinging action of the legs. table is to be set up the board A is merely grasped, as in the preferred form, and gradually When the lowered to its horizontal position, and as this movement is effected the various frame and supporting parts move through the" position indicated in Fig. 14 and to the final position as shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, the action of gravity being the only force required to move the so upon slight pressure being exerted downwardly on the board A.

It is of course understood that as the rear leg frame assumes its operative position the connecting rod 63 will pull up on the toggle links GI until they are drawn into horizontal positions as indicated in Figs. 12 and 13, and at which time the lower ends of the legs 53 are forced outwardly to their spread positions.

-When the table is to be collapsed after use, the operation is reversed, and ordinarily the parts will, without any special assistance, function as desired. However, if the joint 54 does not immediately break because of friction, as might be caused by paint or too tight pivot points, then the operatoronly has to exert a slight rearward pressure on this joint after the table has first been slightly lifted off of the fioor; and when this is done the respective move- -ments of the several parts will automatically function as indicated.

It may here be noted that inasmuch as the connector frame Di does not slide with respect to the frame Bl, as in the preferred form, it is necessary to provide the joint 54 in the rear leg frame so that when the sections 52 and 53 are jackknifed or doubled against themselves, the distance between the centers 34 to 60 and thence to 40 will be equal to the distance from the point 3! through the pivot and to point 40. And the joint 54 must be so located that when the various frames are entirely collapsed the distance from the center 60 to the center 54 will be equal to the length of the links 52, plus the distance from the center 60 to the pivot 20. The purpose of the pivots 56 is to'permit the cross bar 55 to turn on the axes of these pivots so that the minnectlng rod 63 can be rigidly secured against one of the flat faces of the cross bar 55, the turning movement at 56 being required by the folding action as indicated in Fig. 14. When the connecting rod 83 has pulled the toggle links 6! up into the horizontal positions indicated in Fig. 11, it will of course be obvious that these links will cooperate to form a rigid connection between the legs inasmuch as the connecting pivot pin 62 is then retained by the rod 63 at a fixed elevation.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ironing table the combination of a normally horizontal ironing board, a primary leg frame pivotally connected at its upper end with respect to the board for swinging movement relative thereto, a primary brace member extending downwardly from one end of the board and having its upper end pivotally connected thereto, a secondary brace member hingedly connected at its opposite ends to the lower extremities of said primary leg frame and brace member, respectively, to cooperate therewith and with the board to form a quadrangular structure permitting said leg frame and brace members to swing on said pivot and hinge connections under the action of gravity into collapsed condition adjacent the board when the board is tilted to vertical position, and a secondary leg frame attached to the board and normally disposed in a plane through the joint connecting said brace members, said secondary leg frame being slidably associated with the secondary brace member and swingable into abutting contact with the primary brace member to brace the quadrangular structure and thus establish full operative support for the board, said primary leg frame being disposed at an angle decidedly less than a right angle to the board.

2. In an ironing table the combination of a normally horizontal ironing board, a primary leg frame pivotally connected at its upper end with respect to the board for swinging movement relative thereto, a primary brace member extending downwardly from one end of the board and having its upper end pivotally connected thereto, a secondary brace member hingedly connected at its opposite ends to said primary leg frame and brace member, respectively, to cooperate therewith and with the board to form a quadrangular structure permitting said leg frame and brace members to swing on said pivot and hinge connections under the action of gravity into collapsed condition adjacent the board when the board is tilted to vertical position, and-a secondary leg frame attached to the board and swingable into abutting contact with the primary brace members for occupying a position to brace the quadrangular structure and thus establish full operative support for the board, said primary leg frame being disposed at an angle decidedly less than a right angle to the board, and said primary leg frame and said secondary brace member being substantially V-shaped in form and having their apex ends joined at the hinge connection therebetween.

3. In an ironing table the combination of a normally horizontal ironing board, a primary leg frame pivotally connected at its upper end with respect to the board for swinging movement relative-thereto, a primary brace member extending downwardly from one end of the board and having its upper end pivotally connected thereto, a secondary brace member hingedly connected at its opposite ends to said primary leg frame and brace member, respectively, to cooperate therewith and with the board to form a quadrangular structure permitting said leg frame and brace members to swing on said pivot and hinge connections under the action of gravity into collapsed condition adjacent the board when the board is tilted to vertical position, and a secondary leg frame attached to the board and swingable into abutting contact with the primary brace member for occupying a position to brace the quadrangular structure and thus establish full operative support for the board, said primary leg frame and said secondary brace member being substantially V-shaped in form and having their apex ends joined at the hinge connection therebetween, and said secondary leg frame having slots for slidably receiving the V-shaped secondary brace member.

4. A collapsible ironing table comprising a board having a tapered forward end, front and rear leg frames pivotally secured-to the board intermediate the ends thereof and with the front leg frame normally inclined at an angle decidedly less than 90 to the front end of the board, a connector frame pivoted at its forward end to the inclined front leg frame and having limited sliding engagement with the rear leg frame, and a brace frame having fixed pivot connections at its upper and lower ends with the rear ends of the board and connector frame, respectively.

5. A collapsible ironing table comprising a normally horizontal board, front and rear leg frames pivotally connected to the board intermediate the ends thereof and respectively extending forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the pivot connections and with the front leg frame disposed at an angle decidedly less than a right angle to the board, a connector frame pivoted to and extending rearwardly from the front leg frame, a brace frame having fixed pivot connections with the rear ends of the board and connector frame, whereby the rear portion of the board, the front leg frame, the connector frame, and the brace frame will form a collapsible quadrangular structure, and said rear leg frame normally extending between obliquely opposite corners of the quadrangular structure and engaged with the connector and brace frames to maintain the quadrangular structure in rigid operative position.

6. A collapsible ironing table comprising a normally horizontal board, front and rear leg frames pivotally connected to the board intermediate the ends thereof and respectively extending forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the pivot connections and at angles decidedly less than right angles to the plane of the board, a connector frame pivoted to and extending rearwardly from the front leg frame, a brace frame having fixed pivot connections with the rear ends of the board and connector frame, whereby the rear portion of the board, the front leg frame, the connector frame, and the brace frame will form a collapsible quadrangular structure, and said rear leg frame having abutting contact with the brace frame and. being slidably associated with the connector frame during the collapsing and setting up movements.

7. A collapsible ironing table comprising a normally horizontal board, front and rear leg frames pivotally connected to the board intermediate the ends thereof and respectively extending forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the pivot connections and with the front leg frame disposed at an. angle decidedly less than a right angle to the planeof the board, a brace frame and a connector frame cooperating with the board and front leg frame to form a collapsible, quadrangular supporting structure having pivot connections at all four corners thereof to provide for collapsing movement from such pivot centers, said rear leg frame normally engaging obliquely opposite corners of the quadrangular structure so as to serve as a diagonal brace to secure the supporting structure in rigid position.

8. A collapsible ironing table comprising a. board hinged intermediate its ends to front and rear supporting leg frames which extend downwardly, and respectively forwardly, and rearwardly from the points of hinge connection, the front leg frame being longer than the rear leg frame and extending at an acute angle under the front end portion of the board, a brace frame swingably attached to the rear end of the board, and a connectorframe pivoted at its ends to the front leg frame and the lower end of the brace frame, respectively, the rear leg frame having guides for slidable engagement with the connector frame.

9. A collapsible ironing table .comprising a board hinged intermediate its ends to front and rear supporting leg frames which extend downwardly, and respectively forwardly, and rearwardly from their upper ends said front g frame being longer than the rear leg frame, a pair of brace frames having adjacent ends pivotally secured together and havin their outer ends piv otally secured one toth rear end of the board and the other to the fore end of the front leg frame, the rear leg frame, when in operative position, being engaged with the brace frames adjacent their point of pivotal connection with each other and forming a truss between such frames and the board proper to resist collapsing movement of the board supporting structure.

10. A collapsible ironing table comprising a board hinged intermediate its ends to front and rear supporting leg frames which extend downwardly, and respectively forwardly, and rearwardly, from their points of attachment to the board, a pair of brace frames having adjacent ends pivotally secured together and having outer ends pivotally secured one to the rear end of the board and the other to the fore end of the front leg frame, the rear leg frame abuttingly engaging one of the brace frames adjacent their point of pivotal connection with each other, said frames all being movable on said hinged and pivotal connections into proximity with the board under the action of gravity when the board is lifted from its normal horizontal position and tilted to a vertical position.

11. A collapsible ironing table comprising a board hinged on a line rearwardly of its transverse center line to inclined front and rear sup-' porting leg frames which extend forwardly, and rearwardly, respectively, from the point of board connection, the front leg frameextending at an angle under the forward portion of the board decidedly less than at right angles thereto, a connector frame pivotally secured to and extending rearwardly from the front leg frame, the rear leg frame having slots for slidably receiving and .guiding the connector frame therein, and a brace frame connecting the rear ends of the board and connector frame.

12. In an ironing table the combination of a normally horizontal ironing board, front and rear leg frames pivotally attached at their upper ends to the board and diverging downwardly when in operative positions, a brace frame pivotally connected to the rear end of the board and extending downwardly to releasably engage the rear leg frame .to cooperate therewith and with the rear portion of the board to form a collapsible truss, and a tension member connecting the front leg frame and saidbrace frame to prevent spreading of the leg frames beyond predetermined operative positions, said front leg frame being longer than the rear leg frame and being disposed.

rear end of the board and the other'to the front leg frame, the rear leg frame having rearward swinging movement limited by stopping engagement with one of the brace frames adjacent their point of pivotal connection with each other, and manually operative means for releasably locking the rear leg frame with respect to said brace frames.

14. In arr'ironing table the combination of a normally horizontal ironing board the forward portion of which istapered and free of support connections to facilitate the-ironing work thereon, front and rear leg frames pivotally attached at their upper ends to the board and diverging downwardly when in operative positions, the front leg frame extending at an angle under and decidedly less than to said tapered forward portion of the board, a brace frame pivotally connected to the rear end of the board with the front leg frame extending forwardly under the said tapered board portion and at an angle decidedly less than a right angle thereto, a connector frame pivoted at its forward end to the front leg frame and having limited sliding engagement with the rear leg frame, and a brace frame having fixed pivot connections at its upper and lower ends with the rear ends of the board and connector frame, respectively, said brace frame being of substantially triangular formation to form a truss support for the rear end of the board and swingable forwardly into parallelism with the board from its fixed pivot connection therewith when the table is collapsed.

16. A collapsible ironing table comprising a normally horizontal board, front and rear leg frames pivotally connected to the board intermediate the ends thereof and respectively extending forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the vertical plane of the pivot connections, the front leg frame being longer and disposed at a more acute angle with respect to the board than the rear leg frame, a connector frame pivoted to and extending rearwardly from the front leg frame, a brace frame having fixed pivot 'connections with the rear ends of the board and connector frame, whereby the rear portion of the board, the front leg frame, the connector frame, and the brace frame will form a collapsible quadrangular structure, and said rear leg frame having a slotted cross bar to slidably receive the connector frame.

17. A collapsible ironing table comprising 9.

board hinged intermediate its ends to front and rear supporting leg frames which extend downwardly, and respectively forwardly, and rear wardly, from the points of hinge connection,

the front leg frame being longer and disposed at a more acute angle with respect to the board than the rear leg frame, a brace frame swingably attached to the rear end of the board, and a connector frame pivoted at its ends to the front leg frame and the lower end of the brace frame, respectively, the rear leg frame including a pair of transversely spaced, substantially parallel legs depending from opposite sides of the board and a cross bar rigidly connecting said legs at a level between the upper and. lower extremities thereof and movable into bracing engagement with the brace frame.

18. A collapsible ironing table comprising a board hinged intermediate its ends to front and rear supporting leg frames, said board having a tapered front end and said front leg frame being disposed at an oblique angle under said tapered board end, said rear leg frame having a cross bar provided with laterally disposed guide openings, a connector frame having its front end attached to the front leg frame with rearwardiy extending bar portions slidably engageable in said guide openings, and a brace frame pivotally secured at upper and lower ends to the rear ends of the board and connector frame respectively, said connector frame bar portions diverging rearwardly from the front leg frame and passing through the guide openings to the points of pivot connection with the brace frame.

19. Acollapsible supporting structure for an ironing board comprising a pair of downwardly diverging front and rear leg frames supporting the board at a point intermediate its ends, the front leg frame being longer and disposed at a more acute angle with respect to the horizontal than the rear leg frame, a connector device connecting the leg frames to limit the spread therebetween, an inclined brace frame pivoted to the connector device and extending down from the rear end of the board to the rear leg frame for supporting engagement therewith at substantially the point of engagement by the connector device therewith, and pivot means attaching the leg and brace frames to the board and permitting swinging of said frames into parallelism with the board when the supporting structure is collapsed.

OSCAR A. FLAGSTAD. 

